Scottish Beliefs
A quick synopsis of the religious history of Scotland.
Religion in Ancient Scotland
Scotland’s religious history is known only as far back as its conversion to Christianity in the 6th century. Few, if any, reliable sources survive regarding its original forms of worship. In all likelihood, its people practiced variants of the same Celtic faith found in other parts of early Europe, Britain, and Ireland. This family of polytheistic faiths emphasized natural harmony, with rites performed by a class of scholar-priests, or druids. The region converted to Christianity through the work of Roman, British, and Irish missionaries like St. Columba in the 6th century. Columba’s monastery on the island of Iona became a hub of learning, drawing monks from England, Ireland, Scotland, and Continental Europe. Other monasteries, abbeys, and cathedral soon dotted the British Isles.
Like Ireland, the ‘Celtic Church’ of Scotland initially had little contact with Rome. It developed into a unique system centered on monasteries rather than the power of bishops. Over time, however, the faithful of Scotland fell more in line with Roman standards.
Scotland and the Protestant Reformation
While medieval Scotland built grand cathedrals and produced vibrant illuminated manuscripts, religious peace would not last forever. The 16th century brought the Protestant Reformation to Scotland with dramatic consequences. The religious split occurred unevenly, punctuated by local acts of violence. In time, the conflict came to include both the Catholic Church and two Protestant factions--Calvinist Presbyterians, or Covenanters, and the Anglican Church.
Caught between them all sat King Charles I. An Anglican himself, he faced criticism from both Catholics and Protestants who thought he leaned too close to Catholicism. After he attempted to bring the Church of Scotland in line with the Anglican Church, the Bishops’ Wars bled into the larger English Civil War, or the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. The Scottish revolt inspired similar rebellions in Ireland, which in turn triggered further political machinations and turmoil. Charles I lost his head in 1649. Oliver Cromwell, a Puritan, eventually subdued both Scotland and Ireland. The kingdom, fatigued by the turmoil, at last deposed the Catholic King James II in favor of the Protestant William of Orange. Catholic rebellions continued with the Jacobite risings of the 17th and 18th century.
Worship in Modern Scotland
Religious tensions eased in the 19th century before largely subsiding in the 20th. Scottish academics instead turned to the subjects of science, mathematics, and philosophy. Eighteenth-century philosophers like David Hume, Adam Smith, and Thomas Reid helped shape the course of the modern era with their writings. Meanwhile, scientists such as James Watt, Alexander Graham Bell, Joseph Black, and James Maxwell all made significant contributions to their fields. As of 2016, Scotland’s population is majority non-religious, with 58 percent claiming no affiliation. Around 18 percent associate with the Protestant Church of Scotland, and another 15 percent with Roman Catholicism.
Learn More About Scottish Culture
Cultural Overview | Geography | History | Daily Life | Society | Economy | Beliefs | Arts & Music
References
Foyster, Elizabeth ed. History of Everyday Life in Scotland, 1600 to 1800. Edinburgh University Press. 2010.
Hill, Roland. Scotland: Land of Lochs and Glens. I.B. Tauris. 2002.
Lang, Andrew. A Short History of Scotland. Dodd, Mead, and Co. 1912.
“Religious Identification Tables.” ScotCen, ScotCen Social Research, 24 Mar. 2017, www.scotcen.org.uk/media/1452846/55A_R3l1g10n_T4ble5_2016.pdf.
Sanderson, William. Scottish Life and Character. MacMillan Co. 1904.
“The World Factbook: United Kingdom.” Central Intelligence Agency, Central Intelligence Agency, 4 June 2018, www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/uk.html.
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